Weighing 450 gross tons, Silolona’s hull and keel are
made of ironwood. Seery rejected two 25-meter keels before driving eight hours
into the jungle with the Konjo builders to select her own perfect keel timber
without a single knot along its entire length. Using Burmese rosewood, Halaban
hardwood and 150-year-old teak salvaged from colonial Dutch warehouses in
central Java, wood samples were sent to Michael Kasten to test the specific
gravity. Silolona was launched in 2004 and transferred to Bali for
fitting out to Seery’s specifications.
 The schooner under sail. (Click image to enlarge)
Although phinisi schooners crewed by Bugi mariners still carry
cargos between the 17,000-odd islands of the Indonesian archipelago,
Silolona was the first to be specifically built with passenger safety and
comfort in mind to Germanischer Lloyd specifications. Silolona has three
fully air-conditioned master suites and two double guest cabins named after the
different regions of Indonesia (Bali, Java, Asmat, Sumba and Borneo) that can
sleep 10 to 12 guests in Asian-style luxury. Each cabin is personalized with
ethnic sculptures and textiles and features its own spacious bathroom with
shower stall, a day sofa that doubles as an extra berth, abundant storage space,
freshly made island soaps, crisp white bed linens and soft cotton bath towels
that are changed daily. Her 33-foot beam provides hundreds of square feet of
warm teak decks and a deckhouse that can easily accommodate a full guest
contingent at the dining table or seated in the salon.
Top: The natural archway on Ko Chuku. Bottom: Sunset viewed
from the Four Seasons Resort on Langkawi. (Click images to enlarge)
Over the next few days we variously spent our time relaxing on
deck, water-skiing, snorkeling and scuba diving. We also explored by kayak the famous sinkholes or "hongs" of southern Thailand, especially off the west coast
of Ko Phanak. These awesome geological features are formed when rain absorbs
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and, over millennia, the resulting acidic water
dissolves the limestone rock to create sinkholes, often with access from the
sea. Some are well known and visited by tourist excursions, but Seery knows the
best hongs off the beaten track. One of her favorite treats is to send the crew
ahead in one of the tenders to light candles in the nooks and crannies of the
cave walls. The resulting
cathedral-like atmosphere is quite magical and
provides the perfect ambiance for champagne cocktails before dinner.
 It was something of a shock arriving in bustling Phuket after
five tranquil days at sea, where the only other people we met were fisherman who
came alongside to sell their day’s catch. As we boarded the tender for the
transfer ashore, the crew sang a farewell lament on deck and one or two even had
a tear in their eye. It is difficult to praise too highly the quality of their friendly service and attention to detail, which when combined with Seery’s
passionate enthusiasm and local knowledge make a cruise aboard Silolona a
very special experience. This is superyacht cruising brought back down to earth
with simple yet stylish facilities in total relaxation. Seery is planning to
build two more phinisi, a 60-meter and a 35-meter. (Click image to enlarge)
Specifications: 164' (49.70 m)
Beam: 33' (10.00
m)
Draft: 10' (3.07 m)
Year launched: 2004
Builder: Konjo boatbuilders,
Ara, Borneo
Guests: 12 guests in five staterooms
Cruising speed: 10
kn
Cruising areas: Malaysia, Thailand,
Myanmar (winter); Indonesia
(summer)
Charter rate: $ 70,000 per week ($87,500 per week for Myanmar);
price includes food, soft beverages, fuel, kayaks, water-skiing and diving
equipment
Central agent for charter for Silolona: Simpson Marine Ltd.,
Monaco
Contact: Anna-Maria Hernandez (charter manager)
E-mail: annamaria@simpsonmarine.com
Tel:
+377 97 98 28 28/+33 6 15 72 50 92
Website: www.simpsonmarine.com
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